Stafford County residents may notice an increase in new housing construction after Stafford County Economic Development was awarded a $100,000 Moderate Income Housing grant through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

This grant will provide $25,000 down-payment assistance for four individuals or families to construct a new house within city limits of any Stafford County town (Hudson, Macksville, Radium, Stafford, St. John). Buyers will have the option to choose between three house plans that range from 1,098 sq. ft. to 1,250 and cost approximately $170,000 to construct. Each plan includes three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the main level, and an unfinished basement with roughed in plumbing and two egress windows that would allow two more bedrooms to be finished in.

“Getting financing for new housing construction in rural towns is often a challenge for a number of reasons,” said Carolyn Dunn, Executive Director for Stafford County Economic Development. “With this program in place, we can jump-start new construction and make it easier for families to own a home they can be proud of.”

The buyer will have choices in colors and finishes for the inside and outside of the home. Construction will be on vacant lots within any of the Stafford County towns listed above. Re-developing existing lots helps revitalize towns and uses existing utility infrastructure, thereby keeping costs lower. The buyer must live in the home for 10 years or pay back the $25,000 on a pro-rated basis.

How it works:

You could be ONE of FOUR families that receive $25,000 in down payment and closing costs to build a NEW home with Housing Opportunities, Inc. (HOI).

Contact Carolyn Dunn at Stafford County Economic Development for specific information.

After talking with Carolyn and HOI and you find you'd like to proceed, you will need to work with a lender for a pre-approval amount. Tell the lender HOI has 3 plans for you to choose from that each cost approximately $170,000.

Once your household has been approved for a loan amount adequate to build through this program, you will work with Carolyn and HOI to identify a lot and house plan that will work well together.

Once the lot and house plan are identified, you will sign a purchase contract and provide $5,000 in earnest money. Stafford County Economic Development will act as a temporary owner of the project even though you make all decisions on finishing touches.

Upon completion, you will receive $25,000 from Stafford County Economic Development for down payment/closing costs. Those funds will be presented to your lender at the time of closing.

You are now a proud homeowner of a brand NEW structure!

Why are we contracting with Housing Opportunities Inc. (HOI)?Housing Opportunities Inc. of Great Bend has developed three house plans that can be constructed for approximately $170,000. HOI is a non-profit affordable housing agency serving counties in the region and has experience in compliance with state and federal programs, including the Moderate Income Housing Program.

About Housing Opportunities Inc.HOI was founded in 1995 by a group of committed professionals who saw a dire need for affordable housing in Great Bend, Kansas, and the surrounding communities. HOI is a board governed 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to building affordable and safe housing for the communities in Barton, Pawnee, and Rice counties, and is certified by the State of Kansas as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO).​HOI works with and puts together applications for grant money through government programs for income-based housing. After being awarded the funds for these projects, HOI begins construction on the property. Once the property is built and ready for tenants, HOI manages the properties from renting to maintenance. Visit their website at http://www.housingopportunities.net/index.html for more information.About Kansas Housing Resources CorporationKansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) is a self-supporting, public corporation which serves as the primary administrator of federal housing programs for the State of Kansas. Their mission is to increase the availability of affordable, decent and accessible housing for lower-income Kansans. To achieve their goal, KHRC collaborates with many partners across the state, including lenders, developers, builders, real estate agents, service providers, homeless advocates, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. Visit their website at http://www.kshousingcorp.org/ for more information.

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I am very interested in building a home in St. John. I'm pretty sure I would meet income guidelines. However, I have my own house plan that I've wanted to build for years. It's about the same size as your largest plan, and has an unfinished basement as well. It's so similar to what your houses are, just a different layout. A builder just gave me an estimate of $180,000 to build it. Do you think I might qualify for your grant? Or would I have to choose one of the homes you already have plans for?

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Stafford County Economic Development

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